Best & Cheap Places to Visit in Fall in the USA(2020)

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What is the best time to visit the United States? This is a common question that I was asked from most of the travelers. The question is a little bit tricky and the answer varies from traveler to traveler. Why?

The United States is a country where you can go and enjoy at any time of the year. Exploring the beautiful state parks in Summer to enjoying your Winter holidays in Alaska, the USA has something special to offer its visitors every season. But if you want to enjoy pleasant weather with less humidity and less crowd then fall is the best season to travel in the USA.

September to November is the ideal time to enjoy the Autumn color and the best fall foliage in the USA. If you are planning a relaxing vacation, here is the list of best fall vacations in the USA.

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1. Vermont:

Vermont is one of the best destinations in New England to enjoy the best fall foliage in the USA. Most of the part of Vermont is covered in medium-density forest with maple, birch, and beech trees, which turns into splendid warm color during fall. The gondola ride is also available in Stowe and you can enjoy a fantastic bird’s-eye view of the coloring Stowe valley while riding on ski gondola.

Burlington is another beautiful city in Vermont to experience the beauty of fall. The reflection of the colorful tress over the lake Champlain is a breathtaking view with Adirondack mountains in the distance. The best way to explore this place is to rent a bicycle and cycling through the woods.

Vermont

2. The Great Smoky Mountains:

This is the most visited national park in the United States and October is the month when this park receives maximum footfall. It is one of the best fall destinations in the USA. The Great Smoky Mountains national park is located in the border of North Carolina and Tennessee region at the heart of Blue Ridge mountains. You will find some native trees here which create a stunning view of gold, orange, burgundy and crimson color in the fall season.

If you are an adventure seeker then you can hike towards Chimney Tops. The hiking trail is short but very steep but the jaw-dropping mountain scenery will heal the pain of the hike. You can also take a Helicopter Tour to enjoy a bird’s eye view of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The Great Smoky Mountains are one of the best places to visit in October in the USA.

The Great Smoky Mountains

3. Asheville – Best Fall Vacations in the USA

Asheville has the longest and most vibrant fall season in the USA. Check Asheville Fall Forecast to experience the peak fall color in Asheville, North Carolina.

The weather is very much pleasant here during fall and the leaves of the forest trees start to change its color into red, yellow and orange from early October and last to mid-November. Couples who are looking for some of the best honeymoon destinations in the USA can spend a romantic vacation in Asheville. It is considered as one of the best fall vacations for couples in the US.

Asheville is the home of some incredible hikes. Visitors prefer hiking to Hickory Nut Falls Trail which is 40 km away from Asheville. The gentle slope and wide trail make it accessible for all types of hikers. The hike ends at 404 feet Hickory Nut Falls which is a popular attraction in this park.

Asheville

Asheville is also popular for a scenic drive in thefall season with e-bike tour. If you want to stay away from hiking then driving through Blue Ridge Parkway will be a handsome reward for you. The variety of elevations of the parkway offers the best view at every bend of the road.

4. Flagstaff, Arizona:

Flagstaff might surprise you as a good fall destination in the US. This little mountain town is located in the Northern Arizona region, surrounded by mountains and ponderosa pine forests. Flagstaff is one of the best places to visit in October in America.

The color of the aspen tree leaves starts to turn out into golden yellow to orange to crimson red during the Autumn season. Experiencing the art show of fall color that thick foliage creates, will be a lifetime experience for the visitors. The beauty of Flagstaff is really amazing which I can relate to the landscape view Switzerland.

Flagstaff

Go for a romantic walk in Buffalo Park or in Flagstaff Urban Trail System. A short drive(1 hour) to Sedona is also recommended to enjoy the scenic view of aspen trees standing on a line by the roadside.

Take a fun ride on a chairlift over Arizona Snowbowl and enjoy the stunning view of fall foliage from above.

5. California:

If you are looking for a perfect fall vacation in the USA, California is the ultimate place to visit. It has a long fall season changing the shades to orange, yellow and gold. Do a road trip along State Route 395 to experience the best of fall colors in California. You will see different variations of fall colors along the route. California is also considered as one of the best solo travel destinations in the US.

November is the best time to see the fall color in the Napa Valley. Take a short walk and you will see the whole vineyards pop out with golden yellow, burnt orange and crimson red color. Don’t forget to take the wine tour of Napa Valley.

California has more to offer apart from fall color. Other popular tourist spots like Yosemite National Park, Conway Summit, Hope Valley, June Lake Loop are also there to enjoy the natural beauty of the Eastern Sierra region.

Yosemite National Park, California

6. White Mountains, New Hampshire:

Many travelers consider the White Mountains is one of the best fall vacations in the USA. The trees with popped out red, orange, and yellow color in the mountain with deep blue sky make a perfect combination to offer a spectacular view of fall.

There are several mountain peaks to climb and strenuous trails to hike. One of the most preferred beginner’s levels of hikes is Flume Gorge. You will have a chance to enjoy beautiful rivers and lakes throughout this hike. Flume Brook waterfall is another major attraction here.

Driving through famous Kancamagus Highway is another reason to consider New Hampshire as the best destination to enjoy fall color. One can ride on the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway that offers the best view of fall foliage from above.

New Hampshire

7. Hudson Valley, New York:

Hudson Valley in New York is one of the best places to visit in fall in USA. This valley has a long fall season as it covers a vast area from north to the south region and the Catskill Mountains have different elevations. The whole valley looks super amazing when it turns into incredible yellow, orange and red color.

There are several farms present in the valley which are open for travelers to visit. You can buy fresh apple, squash or a perfect Jack o’ Lantern pumpkin from the farms.

8. Yellowstone National Park:

Yellowstone National Park is another most popular fall destination in America. It is the oldest national park in the US and attracts more than 4 million visitors every year. One should visit Yellowstone National Park in between October to November to get the best scenic view of fall.

Travelers can experience stunning hiking trails towards the Upper and Lower Falls. There are some hot springs and geysers that visitors can enjoy in Yellowstone.

Tips: Be prepared if you visit Yellowstone National Park in fall time as roads can be closed this time and foods and service stations open seasonally.

9. Oahu, Hawaii:

Oahu is often overlooked in favor of warm weather but it’s one of the best fall vacations in the US. You will find the comparatively less crowded and best view in the fall. This island becomes a cultural paradise with food, fashion and film festivals, as well as visitors, can enjoy the beauty of fall colors in Autumn.

Fall lovers can hike to Koko Crater Arch along the Railway Trail for breathtaking views over the South Shore.

Explore the waterfalls of Oahu and some of my favourite falls are Manoa Falls, Likeke Falls and Lulumahu Falls. One of the big draws in Hawaiian Island is the Hawaii Food and Wine Festival that generally starts in October.

Oahu, Hawaii

10. Salt Lake City, Utah:

Salt Lake City in Utah is another cheap place in the US to visit magnificent fall. The best time to visit the fall foliage is from mid-September to October, though it depends on the elevation.

There are some native trees in Utah like maple, aspen, oak which create spectacular hues of yellow, orange, purple and red. The most popular activity among travelers is to drive through Alpine Loop Scenic Byway. This 20 miles journey offers a mesmerizing view of Mount Timpanogos and a line of chromatic aspen trees.

Utah

These 10 places are the best fall destinations in the USA which you should visit if you want to experience the best fall vacations in the USA. If you have any query or if you would like to add some other places which should be in this list, put your comment below.

I love the fall season so I love traveling in the fall because your photos end up really beautiful. I live in the Philippines so I don’t get to experience fall, like this. The last fall season I experienced was in New York and Georgia, it was so pretty.